Rail marking device



May 12, 1942.

" RAI; MARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1940 2 Sheets--Sheet l Edi Z BY MW ATTORN E YS I A. E. F. BiLLSTE-N 2,282,929

May 12, 1942. A. E] F. m.,,. =&-F N 2,282,929

I RAIL MARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9; 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet All 4/?INVENTOR: firm urflEBi Z isiez'iz A TTORNE YS.

Patented May 12, 1942 RAIL MARKING DEVICE Arthur E. F. Billstein,Altoona, Pa., assignor to The Pennsylvania Railroad Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 9,1940, Serial No. 364,956

13 Claims.

This invention in its broader aspects has reference to devices formaking marks on solid or hollow materials for indicating local defectsnot ordinarily visible and incidentally discovered by testing, while itrelates more particularly to the species automatically operative todeposit readily discernible media on track rails, bars and the like,subjected to test for the purpose of locating internal flaws, fissuresand cracks, as well as external defects, by means effective to set-up amagnetic field around such articles.

Devices of the species referred to when inchided in a track railinspection car are associated with a detector unit, an indicating meansand a marking means operative to spray or deposit a relatively shortmark of fluent medium,

such as paint, in the vicinity of the defect,

whether internal or external and incidental to location of the defect.Such marking means or devices are generally responsive to variations inelectric current flow or voltage drop between spaced points along a railor conductor energized by electric current.

The present invention has for its primary object the elimination of thedisadvantages inherent in the use of a fluent medium such as theinability to localize the media to the small area necessary forsuccessful rail testing. Also to locate the mark directly at the pointof defect, by utilizing crayon or a non-fluent marking medium, ratherthan on the rail base giving the operator a better opportunity topromptly locate such defect.

Another important object is to provide an electromechanically actuatedmarking device of the indicated type adapted for direct physical contactwith the rail undergoing test, as well as eliminating the possibility offalse markings due to surface irregularities in such rail.

A further aim is to provide a resiliently mounted marking devicepreferably for rail testing cars which includes means for automaticallyfeeding forward the crayon incidental to usage and for compensativelyabsorbing all operating shocks.

Other objects, with ancillary advantages, of this invention will becomeapparent from the. following detailed explanation of the preferredembodiment thereof shown by the accompanying sheets of illustrativedrawings, wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts in all the views; while the concluding claims more particularlydefine the features of novelty over the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a railroad trackinspection car with rail testing equipment including the marker of thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a broken elevation of the marking device detached from thecar.

Fig. 3 is a plan section, taken approximately as indicated by the arrowsIII-III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a larger scale cross-section on the plane IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal section through the marking device withthe relatively movable parts in the normal or inactive position.

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view with the various parts in the activeposition with respect to a fragmentary portion of a rail head.

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view within the confines of the arrowsVIIVII of Fig. 5 or at right angles to the plane of the latter figure;and,

Fig. 8 is an electric diagram hereinafter more fully explained toillustrate the manner of actuating the marking device of this invention.

In describing the embodiment of this invention exemplified in the twosheets of illustrative drawings herewith, specific terms will beemployed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scopeof said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intendedto embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for ananalogous purpose.

As hereinbefore mentioned and by way of exemplifying a practicalapplication of this invention, its adaptation to a railway track-testinginspection-car I, Fig. 1, having conventional wheels 2 for traversingtrack rail 3 will be described; said car including a de-magnetizer 4preferably of the type disclosed in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,218,784,dated October 22, 1940, a flaw detector 5, and the novelelectro-mechanically actuated marking-device, comprehensively designated6.

This novel marking-device 6, as best seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, comprisesa cylindrical shell or casing 'l fitted with screw-in ends 8, 9, and ithouses the exciting coil 10, which receives current by way of suitableterminals ll, l2 from any convenient source of supply, not shown,

under control of a relay l3, Fig. 8. Mounted con-- centrically andlengthwise within the casing l is the one end portion of a non-magneticmetal tube l4such as brass-including spaced flanges l5, between whichthe exciting coil I0 is wound, said flanges also, affording rigidabutment for the screw-in ends 8, 9, whereby the casing 1 and tube l4are rigidly attached together. The casing 1 is provided withcircumferentially-spaced upper and lower connectors 16 for the innerends of coil springs l1, the looped outer ends 18 of the latter beingfirmly engaged with preferably round-section annuli I9; and said annuliare rigidly maintained in parallelism by a spacer 20. This spacer 20 isbored or otherwise formed for passage of a clamp bolt 2| whereby thedevice 6 is adjustably attached to a supporting-bracket 22, Fig. 1,provided for the purpose on the car I. Thus it will be readily seen andunderstood that the electromechanical marking-device 6 is resilientlysupported relative to the car I; while the tube I4 is preferably unitedto the screw-in end 6 by a surrounding fillet 23, Figs. 5 and 6, ofappropriate character.

Screw-threaded through the end 9 is a polygonally flanged sleeve 24,fitted with a lock-nut 25 whereby provision is made for axial adjustmentof said sleeve. The sleeve 24 affords slidable guidance for a second orintermediate brass tube 26 coaxial with the first mentioned tube l4,said tube 26 being cushioned by a buffer spring 21, in.- termediate itsclosed-in end 28, attached to a screw-cap 29 threadedly engaged on theouter end of the tube I4, when the marking device is in the inactiveposition best shown in Fig, 5. The tube 26, for purposes ofdifferentiation will be hereinafter referred to as the core-tube,inasmuch as it has permanently affixed theretoin appropriate locationintermediate the endsan iron sleeve or core 30, with an associatedinfluencing or return spring 3| between its inner extremity and theconfronting end of the sleeve 24 above referred to.

Coupled to the outer end portion of the coretube 26, is alongitudinally-split section 32 of a tubulate aluminum holder 33, meanssuch as a split-collar 34 and clamp means 35, conveniently, although notessentially, serving as the coupler device. This holder 33 is providedwith opposing longitudinal slots 36 for passage of inwardlyactive fiatsprings 31 having their upper ends engaged in a second split-collar 38with an associated clamp means 33, and the lower ends 40 are flexedinwards for grip coaction intermediate the bore of the holder taperingend 4| and the confronting faces of a polygonal section crayon 42,preferably of appropriate prepared chalkr dthersuitable composition-andcolor for making a clearly discernible mark on the rail head top surface43, Fig. 6.

Telescopically fitting the core-tube 26 is an inner brass tube 44 havingprojection concentrically of the crayon holder 33 with the outer endclosed at 45 for abutment by the adjoining end of a coil spring 46, theupper end whereof abuts the inner face of the ,core-tube closed-in end28; and, externally of the closed end 45 is a comparatively short bufferspring 41 in abutment with a pad 48 engaging the inner end of the crayon42.

In order to control relative movement of the pipe assembly 26, 44, themeans new to be described is employed, said means comprising an anglebracket 49 firmly attached to the casing 1 andaifording pivotalconnection at 50 for the upper component of a turnbuckle the alignedcomponent 52 whereof is provided with a longitudinally slotted section53 for a purpose hereafter explained. Securely clamped to the coretube26, as by a set screw 54, is a movement limiting collar 55 embodyingop'posingly directed arms 56, 51, the former of which affords connectionat 58 for one end of a recoil spring 59 in turn coupled at 60 to thespacedly-related arm 6| of a yoke lever 62, while the aligning arm 63whereof has its free end 64 in loop-connection with the turnbucklecomponent slotted section 53. The yoke lever 62 is fulcrumed at 65 tothe lower saddle portion 66 of a sleeve-like bearing 61 rigidly attachedto the core-tube 26, by suitable means 61, below the collar 55aforesaid. Thus it will be readily understood that the edge of the leveryoke portion 62, farthest removed from the fulcrum 65, under theinfluence of the recoil spring 59 arrests downward movement of the innertube 44 by impinging the confronting face of said tube at 68, Fig. 5,the stationary coretube 26 being cut-outer lengthwise slotted at 69 toaccommodate such impingement. For opposing upward coaction with thetelescopic inner tube 44, when in the downward or outwardly projectedposition for contact of the crayon 42 with the rail 3, as shown in Fig.6, use is made of a forked brake-lever 10 having the bifurcate portionfulcrumed at 1| to the bearing saddle 66, above referred to, with theleg section end coupled at 12 to one end of a recoil spring 13, in turnsimilarly connected at 14 to the outer end of the movement limitingcollar arm 51. Now, it will be readily appreciated from an inspection ofFigs. 5 and 6 that the crotch 15 of the brake lever 10, under recoilaction of the associated spring 13, is designed to impinge and arrestthe tube 44 when the marking device 6 is projected into the activeposition of Fig. 6, just prior to contact of the crayon 42 with the headof the rail 3 as cushioned by the buffer spring 41.

Having described the structural aspects of this invention, and by jointreference to the diagram of Fig. 8, it is to be particularly noted thatthe marking device 6 is preferably included in the electrical hook-upfor the flaw detector 5; whereas the de-magnetizer 4 and recorder r areentirely separate therefrom or are individually served from othersources of electric energy, not shown. Now it will be clearly apparentthat when the relay l3 closes the circuit by way of the terminals ll, l2electrical energy passes through the exciting coil l0, whereupon thecore 30 and attached tube 26 will be drawn-in or pulled down inopposition to the normal influence of the return spring 3|, and at astroke of constant length determined by the action of the levers 63, 10,until the crayon 42 is worn down by repeated impacts with the railrunning surface 43; whereupon the yoke lever end 64 by engaging thebottom of the turnbuckle slot 53 is slightly lifted, and therebyautomatically releases the telescopic inner tube 44 for further outwardmovement, under the action of the spring 46, to push the crayon 42correspondingly forward relative to its holder 33, or into normal railmarking position. The buffer spring 41 below the closed-in end 45 ofsaid inner tube 44 functions to effectively cushion the impact withresultant elimination of any mashing of the crayon outer end; while thebuffer spring 21 cushions the up-stroke of the inner tube 44 inopposition to the action of the spring 46 or prevents impact of theparts 28, 29. Clearly the sensitivity of the crayon impact with the railhead surface 43 is controlled by the point of arrestation afforded theyoke lever 62, compensatively to the compressive capacity of the spring41. In other words, by the means just explained a constant cushionedmarking contact of the crayon 42 against the rail surface 43 ispositively maintained with an automatic forward feed of said crayon atintervals determined by the slotted section 53 of the turnbuckle 5|until the crayon 42 is worn down. The up-stroke or movement of the pipeassembly 26, 44 with the associated parts, to the inactive position ofthe marking device 6, is effected by the expansion of the return spring3|. This movement is effected by initial impingement of the fork levercrotch edge I5 with the inner tube 44, under the recoil action of itscontrolling spring 13, whereupon the pipe assembly 26, 44 and associatedparts advance upwardly in unison.

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that the crayon 42exerts a definite pressure on the rail 3, determined by the compressivelimits accorded the spring 47; also the extent of outward movementcontrolling advancement of said crayon for each marking operation isadjunctively controlled by expansion of the buffer spring 41 inopposition to the frictional grip of the flat springs 31. Still furtherit is to be noted that the fork lever 10 coacts with the inner tube 44at all times with a positive braking movement-retarding upward action,in order to prevent the crayon 42 from being pushed up into the tube 33out of contact with the rail surface 43. Still further, when theexciting coil or solenoid I is de-energized, it is obvious the returnspring 3| projects the core-tube 26 sharply upwards in opposition to thebuffer spring 21, while the retarding action imparted thereto by thefork-lever crotch 15 prevents said tube from passing beyond thepre-adjusted limit determined by the turn-buck1e 5|. It is to be alsoremarked that the guide sleeve 24 is adjusted and docked by the nut 25at an elevation relative to the movement limiting collar 55 so that whenthe pipe assembly 26, 44 and associated parts are shot upwards by thereturn spring 3|, said collar does not violently impact the outer end ofthe sleeve 24 due to the reactive influence of the respective springs46, 41, and 59, 13. Furthermore, it will be obvious that this inventionis not restricted to the marking of stationary rails by progressionrelative thereto, but that the reverse may equally well be employed orthe rail moved proximately along with respect to marking device 6 whenstationarily mounted.

Finally, while one practical embodiment of this invention has been fullyexplained in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that said invention is not limited thereby but is capable ofa variety of other mechanical expressions, and that changes may be madein the form, details of construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of said invention. Reference is accordingly tobe had to the following claims for a definition of the limits and scopeof this invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In means of the class described a marking device comprising anexciter coil, a core assembly of relatively telescopic componentsaxially through the coil, a holder for a. crayon at the outer end of oneof the core components, means defining a constant active stroke for thecore assembly, means operative to release the other core component justprior to completion of the core assembly active stroke for movement ofthe crayon into contact with the body to be marked, and recoil means forreturning the core assembly to initial position when the exciter coil isde-energized. k

2 In means of the class described a marking device comprising an excitercoil, a core assembly of relatively telescopic tubes axially through thecoil, a holder for a crayon at the outer end of one tube, means defininga constant active stroke for the core assembly, means operative torelease the other tube just prior to completion of the core assemblyactive stroke for movement of the crayon into marking contact with thebody to be marked, means controlling excitation of the coil aforesaidfor effecting the active stroke .of the core, and recoil means forreturning the position when the exciter core assembly to initial coil isole-energized.

3. In means of'the class described a marking device comprising aresiliently-mounted coil, means controlling excitation of said coil, anoutwardly-infiuenced core assembly concentric through the coil involvingrelatively-telescopic members, a crayon holder in' continuation with oneof said members, means controlling a constant active stroke for the coreassembly, means operative to release one of saidmembers just beforecompletion of the core assembly active stroke to effect projection ofthe crayon into marking position, and recoil means for returning thecore assembly to its initial position incidental to de-energization ofthe coil.

4. In means of the type described a marking device served with currentfrom an individual source of supply comprising an enclosed coil with atubular extension, means resiliently supporting the cOil enclosure,means controlling excitation of the coil, an outwardly-influenced coreassembly concentric with the coil and tubular extension, said assemblycomprising relatively-telescopic tubes respectively having the outerends closed-in, a crayon holder'in continuation with the open end of onetube, opposingly influenced levers carried by the last mentioned tubeand operative to control the active stroke of thecore assembly, one ofsaid levers serving to retard movement of the other tube just beforecompletion of the core assembly active stroke to effect projection ofthe crayon into marking position, and recoil means for returning thecore assembly to initial position incidental to de-energization of thecoil.

5. In means of the type described a marking device comprising anenclosed coil with a tubular extension, means resiliently supporting thecoil enclosure, means controlling excitation of the coil, anoutwardly-influenced core assembly coaxial with the coil and tubularextension, said assembly consisting of outer and innerrelativelytelescopic tubes respectively having the outer ends closed-in,means limiting outward movement of the core assembly, a crayon holdercoextensive with the outer tube open end, opposingly operative leverspivotally carried by the outer tube and having tensile connection withthe movement limiting means for eifecting a constant active stroke ofthe core assembly, means engageable by one of said levers effective torelease the inner tube at intervals as the crayon wears down forautomatic feeding forward of said crayon into physical marking position,and recoil means for returning the core assembly to initial positionconcurrent with de-energization of the coil.

6. In means of the type described a marking device comprising anenclosure with an exciter coil and having a tubular extension at oneend,

means supplying current for energizing the coil from an individualsource, means resiliently supporting the coil enclosure, meanscontrolling excitation of the coil, an outwardly-influenced coreassembly coaxial with the coil and enclosure tubular extension, saidassembly consisting of outer stroke of the core assembly, meansengageable by one of said levers serving to release the inner tube atintervals as the crayon wears down for automatic ejection of .saidcrayon into physical marking position, means adjustable to limit pivotalmovement of the other lever, individual buffer means cushioning themovement limits of the core assembly, and recoil means for returning thecore assembly to initial position concurrent with de-energization of thecoil.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the coil enclosure is in the formof a cylinder having attached ends, a tube with spaced flanges isclamped coaxially of the cylinder between the ends with extensionthrough and beyond one of said ends, a removable cap on the outer end ofI the tube extension, a guide sleeve adjustably engages through theother of said cylinder ends, means to lock the guide sleeve in position,and means securing the tube extension to the first mentioned cylinderend.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein the core relatively-telescopictubes include an inner continuous coil spring aligned between theclosed-in ends thereof, a magnetic material sleeve is secured to theouter of said tubes, and an exterior coil spring intermediate saidsleeve inner end and an abutment within the coil enclosure serves toreturn the core to its initial position.

9. The combination of claim 6, wherein the crayon holder is in the formof a tube having the inner end longitudinally split, means clamp saidsplit tube to the open end of the core assembly outer tube,circumferential longitudinal slots are provided proximate the outer endof the split tube, and flat springs with an associated clamping collarhave extension inwardly of the longitudinal slots for grip coaction withan inserted crayon.

10. The combination of claim 6, wherein the buffer means cushioning themovement limits of the core assembly consists of end abutting coilsprings, one of which intervenes the outer tube closed-in end and thecore tubular extension closure cap, and the other intervenes the coreassembly inner tube closed-in end, and a pad on the inner end of thecrayon.

11. The combination of claim 6, wherein the means supporting theopposingly-operative constant-stroke controlling levers is in the formof a sleeve bearing, said bearing having a saddle extension with throughpins for pivotal connection of said levers, and coil springs engageopposite ends of the levers with anchorage to a stationary part of themarking device, whereby said levers are angularly influenced through theconfronting portion of the outer tube into grip engagement with theinner tube of the core assembly.

12. The combination of claim 6, wherein the core assembly outer tube hasa securely attached inward-movement limiting collar with opposedlydirected arms, the lower opposingly-operative constant-stroke controllever is of yoke-formation with arms in spaced relation to the aforesaidcollar arms, the upper lever-is of fork-contour with the bifurcationcrotch adapted to exert retarding action on the core-assembly innertube, and coiled tension springs respectively couple one arm of themovement limiting collar to the registering arm of the yoke lever andthe other arm of said collar to the leg end portion of the forklever.

13. The combination of claim 6, wherein the adjustable means forlimiting pivotal movement of constant stroke controlling levers comprisea suitable bracket projecting from. the marking device enclosure, and aturnbuckle device has one component connected to said bracket with theother component coupled by a slotted connection to the free end of thelower tension-influenced lever.

ARTHUR E. F. BILLSTEIN.

